Teen was drag-racing at 121 mph before Metairie fatality: State Police

Posted Sep 14, 2018

An undated mugshot of Jourdan Marchese, 18. Marchese, who is still hospitalized from a car crash, was booked with negligent homicide, vehicular injuring, reckless operation of a vehicle and drag racing. (JPSO)

Eighteen-year-old Jourdan Marchese was driving 121 miles per hour when he lost control of his Ford Mustang during a drag race down Airline Drive in Metairie and slammed into a pick-up truck, killing a 70-year-old man Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 11), according to the State Police.

Despite still being hospitalized with injuries from the crash, Marchese, of New Orleans, was booked with negligent homicide, negligent injuring, reckless operation of a vehicle and drag racing, said Trooper Melissa Matey, spokeswoman for the State Police. Investigators are still awaiting the results of Marchese's toxicology tests.

"If there are drugs and alcohol in his system, that negligent homicide will be upgraded to vehicular homicide," Matey said Friday.

The truck's driver, Rafael Canessa Sr., was pronounced dead after he was transported to Ochsner Medical Center in Old Jefferson. Canessa's 48-year-old son was also injured in the crash and was still hospitalized as of Friday, according to Matey.

Marchese lost control of his car and left the roadway, drifting right and slamming into Canessa's Toyota Tundra pick-up truck, Matey said. Canessa was back into a parking spot in front of his business, Airline Treasures, 5701 Airline Drive, Metairie, according to authorities.

Marchese hit the driver's-side door, pushing Canessa's truck 124 feet, State Police said. Marchese was taken to University Medical Center in serious condition. A Sheriff's Office deputy has been stationed at the hospital to guard the teen until he is transported to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center.

Canessa celebrated his 70th birthday just the day before the crash. In an interview with Fox 8, Canessa's daughter, Elizabeth Canessa Norton, called him a kind and loving man with whom she wished she had more time.

"He was like a big teddy-bear guy with big bushy eyebrows and thick forearms," said Canessa's friend and insurance agent, Rob Cambias.

Canessa sold toys, furniture, dishes and other collectables at Airline Treasures.

"He was a hard-working guy who would hustle the local garage sales and estate sales and found little pieces of Americana... things that were castaway that other people found still valuable," Cambias said.

Canessa was killed while at work, while doing nothing wrong, Cambias noted.